Staff Attorney (Juvenile Expungement)
For over 50 years, Legal Aid Chicago has provided free civil legal assistance to people living in poverty in metropolitan Chicago. Each year our attorneys, volunteers, and staff help resolve legal problems, including domestic violence, consumer fraud, and unfair evictions. Position: Legal Aid Chicago has an opening for a staff attorney in the Children and Families Practice Group to coordinate its work at the Juvenile Expungement Help Desk. While juvenile records in Illinois are confidential in most cases, they still prevent people from getting jobs, professional licensing, housing and other benefits. Recent changes in Illinois law have increased the ability to expunge juvenile records, and provide remedies for violations of juvenile record confidentiality. This position focuses on using these remedies to facilitate expungements, obtain other relief in employment related matters to persons with juvenile records, and educate potential clients and community members about juvenile records. The expected start date for this position is November 2019.
Salary: Dependent on qualifications and experience level. Legal Aid Chicago offers generous fringe benefits.
Responsibilities include: • Advise and represent clients in expunging juvenile records and preventing illegal dissemination and use of juvenile records. • Supervise the day-to-day work of the Juvenile Expungement Help Desk. This includes client intake, in court representation, and supervision of law students who provide advice and representation under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 711. • Collaborate with court and community partners to increase access to expungements. • Use information from clients and community partners to improve the juvenile expungement process. • Collaborate with a Legal Aid Chicago VISTA to facilitate and conduct outreach and expungement clinics in schools and community agencies across Cook County. Qualifications: The successful applicant will be collegial, well organized, and able to communicate effectively with people from diverse segments of society. The candidate should have a demonstrated commitment to public interest law, a connection to our client communities, and familiarity with Legal Aid Chicago’s client population. Applicants must have a J.D. degree, and be a member of the Illinois bar or licensed in another state and able to waive into the Illinois bar. Fluency in Spanish helpful but not required.
To apply: Send resume, cover letter, transcript, writing sample, and the names and contact information of two professional references to resume@legalaidchicago.org. This position will remain open until filled. Put the phrase “Juvenile Expungement Staff Attorney” in the subject line of the e-mail. No phone calls, please.
Legal Aid Chicago is firmly committed to creating a diverse workplace and is proud to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and therefore does not discriminate on the basis of creed, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age religion, marital or parental status, alienage, disability, political affiliation or belief, military or military discharge status, or ex-offender status. Applicants who have experiences with our client communities are encouraged to apply.